“I am wondering how the two of you can learn Veda chanting. Those young boys in the temple chanted extremely well”, my father said to me and my elder brother one Sunday evening. My mother continued, “Yes Mani, it sounded so wonderful and clear. We hail from a family with Vedic lore. As Appa says, you must also learn Veda mantras.” My immediate thoughts were, “Oh God! What has happened to my parents?” I was then in my ninth grade and my interests were elsewhere. I wondered, “what stroke should play when someone bowls me an inswinger?” I also prayed, “Dear God, if Azhar scores a century in the next match, I will do twenty-seven Pradakshanas (circumambulations) in your shrine”. That was 1987.

Cut to June 20^th, 1990, in the basement of the Sri Sathya Hostel, Brindavan Campus, outside what was then the “Hanuman Chalisa Room”, a lecturer with two other final year undergraduate students said to me, “Mani, you are earnest. But you know what, Vedam chanting is not something you can pick up. You may want to learn some Stotrams and Shlokas instead”. I listened to them in meek silence. 

Returning to my room I asked my senior who was teaching me Vedam, if I could still join his Veda class as a listener. He agreed and as days rolled by, seeing my interest and persistence, he allowed me to repeat the mantra. We had now reached the second semester and I had learnt some Veda mantras. But I was still not one among the preferred for chanting in a group.

I completed my Master’s in Finance Management program. Our convocation was on November 22, 1995. It was the practice then that students who had just graduated would get the opportunity to chant Vedam on the stage for the convocation. We were to be in Prasanthi Nilayam by November 19^th and practice chanting. I heard some brothers comment, “Even If Mani comes on November 22, he will still get a chance.” They were talking about chanting for the convocation. I was ecstatic. Swami’s grace had made it happen.

Thirteen years later, on July 1^st, 2009, as part of the group from Maharashtra and Goa, we eagerly waited for Bhagawan to emerge from the Yajur Mandiram. There were over 80 of us clad in Angavastram and Dhoti (traditional attire) for the blessed opportunity of chanting Veda mantras in a procession leading Bhagawan to the Sai Kulwant Hall. Having travelled across Maharashtra and Goa sharing Veda chanting knowledge, I now stood outside Yajur Mandir thanking Bhagawan for bestowing upon me this sacred opportunity.  As Swami emerged from Yajur Mandir, His smile of recognition moistened my eyes. The chant of the Vedas resonated across Prasanthi Nilayam and Swami listened intently. My eyes feasted on His lovely countenance simultaneously awaiting His signal. After about forty-five minutes Swami beckoned me and asked how much longer we could chant? I replied, “As long as you want us to, Swami.” Swami smiled and signaled that we could stop at the end of the current mantra being chanted. Bhagawan then accepted Arati. Later, we learnt that as Swami returned to Yajur Mandir, He mentioned to an elder, “Veda patanam chaala chaala chaala baaga vundindi (veda chanting was very very very good)”. Until the previous night our chanting was abysmal; Swami had made it a grand success.

A year later, on September 3, 2010, we were given another blessed opportunity. Hundreds of students from the Sathya Sai School chanted Veda mantras in Swami’s divine presence at Prasanthi Nilayam. We had the glorious opportunity to offer Veda Pushpaanjali (floral salutations with Veda mantras) to Bhagawan.

His Grace makes everything happen. On May 22^nd, 1991, some of us students got the opportunity to chant Veda mantras, on the stage, in the College Auditorium, at His Brindavan Campus. We were chanting the Durga Suktam. Swami signaled us to stop after only the 3^rd sentence. We had no idea our chanting was awful. We were retreating from the stage when Swami called and blessed us all with Padanamaskar. I was the last. As I was touching His feet Swami looked at all present in the auditorium and said in Telugu, “Kotha pillalu kaada, munmundu baaga cheptaru, (They are new children, in the future they will chant well).” He had pardoned our mistakes. It was an encouragement and an assurance. In one of His divine discourses Bhagawan has said “Veda chanting increases the love for God”. Many students and Sai devotees have learnt the sacred Veda mantras, and that is by His grace alone. There have been many such instances where I have recalled this assurance from Swami. Veda has not only bestowed me with nearness to our lord but also dearness to Him.

CBS Mani B. Com, MFM, 1990 – 1995, Prasanthi Nilayam. Currently Director Expert at CGI, an Information Technology Multinational Corporation based out of Bengaluru. In the last few years Mani has been blessed to share the knowledge of chanting Veda mantras with school children.